Carbonating machine



Sept. 25, 1951 G. w. BAYERS, JR 2,568,980

CARBONATING MACHINE Filed April 16, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.GEOIPGL h. fiAY Rs/R.

ATTOR/VE Sept. 25, 1951 G. W. BAYERS, JR

CARBONATING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 16, 1948 INVENTOR. GORG14 fiAwms Av.

' ATTORNiY.

Patented Sept. 25, 1951 CARBONATING MACHINE George W. Bayers, Jr.,Denver, 0010., assignor of' one-halfto George W. Bayers, Denver, 0010.

Application AprillG, 1948, Serial N'..21-,4.70

2 Claims.

carbonatingsdevice that. does' not require a motor or-a pump'andwhichwshallrbe-of a very simple and; substantial. construction and inaddition thereto be highly reliable-smits operation;

"Carbon: dioxide for use in carbonatin water is: today dispensed. inliquid :form. and. sold incylindersfwherein the liquid is maintainedunderhi h pressure; The liquid carbon, dioxide must.

bermixe'd with water at a much lower pressure,

before the water is dispensed as a carbonated drink; Itis the principalobjectof this invention. toiproduce a deviceby means of. whichthecarbon.-

dioxideis deliveredto-a stream of flowing Water at a pressuresuffioientlygreater thanthat-of -the water to: effect. aproper mixtureand, in which the: gas pressure-is automatically regulated bythewater'pressure inwsucha manner that a proper differential is at alltimes maintained.

The above and other objeots-thatmay become apparent asthedescriptionproceeds-are attained.

bymeansofa construction. and an arrangement of partsthat-willrnow bedescribed: in detail and reference for this-purpose will be had tothevac oompanying drawings .in-which the invention has beenillustratedandin. which;

I Figurelis adiagrammatic view showing the manner in-which the severalelements. are connected, one ofsaid elementsbeing shown. in par--tiallsection;

Figure 291's aside elevation-of the'mixing. valve;

Figure 3. is a longitudinal diametrical section taken. on line.3I3,.Figure 2;

Figure: 4 is. a section taken on line 4-4,. Fig: ure 3;

Figure '5 is a section. taken on line 5-5,. Fig-- ure 3';

Figure 6 is a top plan view of a reducing valve; Figure '7 is-a sectiontaken on line 1-1., 'Figure. 6

FigureB is atop plan View of a check valve; Figure 9 is. aside elevationof- .the check valve; and;

Figure 1.0. is, alongitudinal. section taken on line |0|0, Figure 8..

In the. drawing reference numeral I5 designates a gas cylinder. andreference numeral [6 designates a water .pipe which. isusually connectedwith. the.\water system of the. buildingin. whichthe. apparatus. isemployed. Reference nu.- meral. I] designates. a check. valve that willbe. hereinafter described. Reference numeral. [8 designates av reducing.valve. and. reference numeral l9. designates a mixingvalvewhile-reference. numeral 20. designates a mixing. chamber through. whichthe mixture of. gas. and. liquidv flows andv from which it passesthrough. the refrigerating coil. 2!. to the dispensing faucet. 22.A-.pressurepipe 23. connects thecheck valve. t! with thebon net of thereducing. valve forapurposeand. in a. manner which willhereinafterappear. Where. the. device is employed in .connection with a. soda.fountain, the operator, by. controlling valve 22, dispenses a. mixture.of water and carbon. dioxide- Which hasbeen. effected by the apparatuswhich will .now be. described in-detail.

Referring now. more particularly to Figures 6. and '7 which showthereducing valveyreference numeral 24. designates the body: oftthe'reducing.

valve andwreference numeral 25 the bonnetof thevalve. This reducingvalve is constructed. in the usual manner with-one or two minorexceptions,

but, in order tolexplainthe operation, a general' description of thevalve willbe-given.

Positioned between the" body and the -bonnet is av flexible metaldiaphragm 26, the: two parts being held. in position bymeans 'of bolts21. A. spring 28 is positioned'inthe bonnet andrests; onv the diaphragm.-A plate 2.9 rests on the. top of the spring andthis is. engaged by theinner end of screw 30,.Which isthreadedto the bonnet at 31 and passesthrough a packing'box or-glandz 32. Screw may be rotated by means of thehandle '33.. It. is evident that the pressure of the. spring hasatendency to bow thediaphragm:

39 is positioned inwthe opening in member 35 and is under compressionand normally urges.

the yoke member. against. the under surface of the. diaphragm as showninthe drawing Arm.

36a. has an opening through which the. tubular part. 40 extends. Thispart has a. downwardly.

- wardly against the action of spring 39, thereby separating the twovalve me'mbers 38 and 42 as shown in the drawing. By building up apressure in chamber 45 that is greater than the pressure exerted by thespring 28, the diaphragm can be flexed upwardly so asv to bring thevalve members into engagement. It will be observed that the wall of thebonnet is provided with an opening 46 to which reference will presentlybe made. In the present embodiment, the body portion 24 is provided withtwo other threaded hubs which have been indicated by reference numeralsand 48, in Figure 6. The two threaded hubs 44 and 41 are closed by meansof plugs 49, in the construction shown in the drawings. A pipe 58connects the interior of the gas cylinder l with threaded hub 43 andwith chamber 45. A pressure gauge 5| may be connected with pipe 50, ifdesired. Water pipe I8 is connected with the check valve l1 throughopening 52.

The check valve construction will now be described. The body of thecheck valve is provided with an axial opening 53 extending inwardly fromits lower end and this is closed by means of a threaded plug 54. Anotheraxial opening 55 extends into the body of the check valve from the top.The two axial openings terminate in a partition 56 that is provided witha central opening 51. The upper edge of opening 51 has a valve seat 58.A foraminated plate 59 is positioned on the underside of partition 56and is held against the latter by means of a spring 68. A plug 6| closesthe upper opening 55 and this is provided with a central recess 62 thatcontains a compression spring 83. A movable valve member 64 ispositioned in opening 55 and is provided on its under surface with aresilient seal 65 that normally rests on the valve seat 58 and is urgedtowards the latter by spring 63. The check valve provided with athreaded opening 61 positioned.

above partition 56. Opening 61 is connected with opening 68 in themixing valve body I!) by means of pipe fittings 69 (Fig. 1).

Referring to Figures 2 to 5, inclusive. the construction of the mixingvalve will now be described. The body of the mixing valve has beenindicated by l9 and this is provided with a cylindrical threaded upwardextension to which cap 1| is connected. Extending through the body I9 isan axial opening having sections of different diameters. The centersection of this opening has been designated by reference numeral 12 andterminates in an opening 13 of somewhat larger diameter. Curved walls 14join the two opening sections. The lower end of opening 13 is threadedand a tubular threaded member is positioned therein. The upper end ofsection 12 terminates in a valve seat 16 that, in turn, terminates in acylindrical portion 11. An opening 18 of somewhat larger diameter than11 extends to the upper end of body I 9. Extending upwardly from the.threaded portion 18 is a tubular extension 18. An opening 80communicates the area surrounding tubular extension 18 with the interiorof axial opening 18. A valve BI has a cylindrical plug 82 that extendsinto tubular member 19 and serves as a guide for the valve. The uppersurface of valve 8| is provided with a resilient disk 83 that engagesthe valve seat 84 when cap 1| is in position. In the drawing valve 8|has been shown as spaced from valve seat 84 but it is held normally inengagement with the valve seat by the action of spring 85. Cap 1| isprovided at its upper end with a threaded projection 86 and connectionis made from this to the threaded lug 48 of the reducing valve, by meansof pipe fittings 81, as shown in Figure 1. The body 19 is provided atits lower end with a threaded plug 88 to which a pipe 89 is connected bymeans; of a connector 98. Pipe 88 connects with the lower end of amixing chamber 9| that contains a quantity of clean graded sand 92. Thesand rests on a screen 93 and terminates underneath screen 94. The upperend of the mixing chamber has connected therewith a pipe 85 that hasbeen shown as having formed therein a cooling coil 2| that is located ina refrigerating chamber 96 Pipe 95 extends to dispensing faucet 22.

Positioned in the opening in body I8 is a valve comprising afrustoconical valve member 91 that fits against the valve seat 16. Thevalve has a guide stem 98 that extends into the opening 11. The valvestem below valve 81 terminates in a cylindrical flange 99 that ispositioned a short distance above the juncture of sections 12 and 13. Aspring I88 urges the valve upwardly into the position shown in Figure 3.Spring I80 is a weak spring but has been shown to an exaggerated scalein the drawing.

From Figure 1 it will be seen that a pipe 23 is connected at its lowerend with threaded opening 66 in the check valve l1 and has its upper endin communication with the interior of bonnet 25 through opening 48. Itis therefore apparent that any pressure in opening 53 is communicated tothe interior of bonnet 25 through pipe 23 and therefore this pressure isadded to the force exerted by spring 28 for the purpose of movingdiaphragm 26 downwardly.

Let us now assume that the parts are con- I nected as shown in Figure 1and that valve I8! is open letting CO2 gas pressure from cylinder I5into chamber 45 through pipe 58. This pressure is greater than thecombined pressure of spring 28 and the pressure of the fluidcommunicated thereto through pipe 23 and therefore diaphragm 26 will bowupwardly until the two valve members 38 and 42 come into engagement.Water from pipe l6 enters opening 53 and exerts an upward pressure onvalve 84 and passes by this valve through opening 81 and pipe 68 intothe center section 12 of the axial opening in mixing valve l9. If valve22 is closed, there is, of course, no flow of water, especially afterthe pipe has been completely filled with water. It will now be apparentthat since pipe 23 communicates the interior of check valve l1 with theinterior of bonnet 25, the pressure of the water will be exerted on thdiaphragm as above mentioned. So long as no water is flowing, the partsremain in substantially the position shown in Figures 3 and 10.

Attention will now be called to the fact that the pressure at which thegas valve 38, 42 opens is slightly greater than the pressure of thewater in section 12 of the mixing chamber and therefore when valve 22 isopened to permit water absence to now; the =movement ofs-th'ewater will;first f. all} move the valve assembly, comprising valves 91 and 99downwardly; Since the pressure ofthe' gas-inchamber45 is-higher than thepressure of the water, gas, will,noyv flow, downwardly through pipeconnection 81" and flow around valve';8l.,and;mix with thestreamofiwater where it enters through opening 68. 'Themixture of gas andwater-will nowpass through the mixing chamber, and through the sand 92positioned therein; and flnally emerge through valve, 22, ascarbonatedjwater: The" proportion of gasand water canbe'regulated by-changingthepressure exertedpnthe diaphragm'by, spring 28.;-

In: the above specificationyit has, been pOinted out-that the pressureof the water is somewhat variable and due to this fact and to the factthat the proportion of gas and water .depends upon the differentialpressure at which they come into contact, the mixture would be variableunless some means were taken to maintain the pressure differentialsubstantially constant at all normal variations in water pressure. Forthe purpose of regulating the gas pressure in accordance with the waterpressure, the interior of the check valve assembly has been communicatedwith the interior of the bonnet by means of pipe 23 as above pointedout, and therefore if the water pressure drops, the pressure against thediaphragm will also diminish in the same proportion, and, conversely, ifthe water pressure increases, the pressure on the diaphragm will alsoincrease. With this simple interconnection, a constant differential inthe gas and water pressure can be maintained at all times.

Particular attention is called to the great advantage of communicatingthe water pressure to the diaphragm of the reducing valve, by means of atubular connection as shown. In the first place there is a greatadvantage inherent in the tubular connection and the hydraulic means ofcommunicating the pressure over any mechanical means that might bedesigned for this purpose, and in the second place, the connection shownis of utmost simplicity and does not involve any difficult mechanicaldesign. That part of the valve stem 98 is of slightly smaller diameterthan opening 11 so that gas may pass by at this point in amountsproportionate to the distance valve 99 has moved downwardly when valve16 is unseated. It is also necessary to have flange 99 of somewhat lessdiameter than the opening 12,

The clearance between guide stem 98 and the wall of opening Ti andbetween flange 99 and the wall of openin 12 is of major importancebecause they control the proportioning of the CO2 gas to the volume ofwater flowing, as the volume of water flowing increases valve 91 andguide stem 98 move downwardly and allows more gas to fiow.

The purpose of the check valve shown in Figure 10 is to prevent reverseflow of water and gas in case the water pressure should accidentallyfall to an abnormally low value and in a similar manner valve 8| servesto prevent Water from flowing upwardly into chamber 45 in case thepressure therein should be lowered for any particular reason.

It will be observed from Figure 3 that valve 91 is positioned in acylindrical opening and therefore when liquid is withdrawn at a capacityrate, valve 91 will move down below the cylindrical wall in which it isseated, thereby producing a wide opening for the entrance of gas.

From the above description it will be seen that by niea-n'sor thissimple: apparatus :whichi come... prisesyin combination, the: checkvalve H," the pressure valve, the mixing valve 1 l 9 :and the filter;9l, a verysatisfactory carbonation of water-bean gas pressure to conformto variations in the waterpressure.-' 7

Particularattention is called to the construction of the-mixing-walvewhich is consideredt-to',

be the-lnost important element in the combine tiOnr Havingdescribed.theinventions'what isclaimefd:

asnewis;

1. A carbonatii'nglelement-for use in a carbonate ing device having asupply of water under pressure, a tank containing liquid CO2 and adispensing faucet, said element comprising an elongated body having anaxial opening forming a carbonating chamber, the openin extendingthrough the body from one end to the other, a removable cap threadedlyconnected with one end of said body, said cap having an opening axiallyaligned with the aforesaid axial opening adapted to be communicated withthe gas supply through a pressure reducing valve, an axially movablecheck valve in said cap opening inwardly and adapted to rest on a seatsurrounding the opening in the cap, the body having a water inletopening in communication with the carbonating chamber, the wall of thelatter having an integral valve seat positioned between the water inletopening and the check valve in the cap, said valve seat flaring towardsthe water inlet opening, a valve in the carbonating chamber positionedto engage the valve seat, spring means for urging the valve against theseat, the last named valve having a stem that extends across the waterinlet and a free end forming a guide stem extending into the axialopening in a direction beyond the valve seat toward said cap, the stemthat extends across the water inlet having a radial flange on the outletside of the water inlet, whereby when water flows towards the dispensingfaucet, it will exert a force tending to move the valve from the seat topermit free flow of CO2, the carbonating chamber having an enlargedportioninto which said last named valve may move to provide a relativelylarge CO2 passageway when the valve is open to maximum flow capacity,the other end of the axial opening in the body forming an axialdischarge conduit for connection with the faucet.

2. A carbonating element for use in a carbonating device havin a supplyof water under pressure, a tank containing liquid CO2, and a dispensingfaucet, said element comprising an elongated body having an axialopening of circular cross section, forming a carbonating chamber, theopening extending the entire length thereof, a removable cap threadedlyconnected with one end of the body, said cap having an opening to becommunicated with the gas supply through a pressure reducing valve, acheck valve in said cap, opening inwardly, means comprising a spring forurging the check valve to closing position, the body having a waterinlet opening of larger diameter than the carbonating chamber incommunication with the latter at a point between its ends, the wall ofthe carbonating chamber having a valve seat positioned between the checkvalve and the water inlet opening, at a point spaced from the'latter,the seat facing the water inlet opening, a poppet type valve in thecarbonating chamber, positioned to engage thevalve seat, the valvehaving aguide stem extending into that part of the carbonating chamberbetween the valve seat and the check valve, the guide being of smallerdiameter than the carbonating chamber at that point, and another stemextending across the water inlet opening terminating in that part of thecarbonating chamber on the other side of the water inlet opening, theend of the stem having a circular flange of slightly 10 smaller diameterthan that of the carbonating chamber at that point, the carbonatingchamber being outwardly flared beyond said flange, spring means forurging the valve against its seat, the

parts being so proportioned and arranged that 5 the flange will move toa position in the enlarged 8 1 part of the carbonating chamber and thevalve will move into the water inlet opening when the dispensing faucetis wide open.

GEO. W. BAYERS, Jn.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

